Watching Devils winger Ilya Kovalchuk throughout most of this season, but particularly since the All-Star break in late January, it is evident he is on a mission.

Talk to him about his greatest moment in hockey and it is clear he hopes to experience it this spring.

So far his happiest moment on ice came in 2008 at the Colisee in Quebec City, where Kovalchuk scored the winning goal after 2:42 of overtime as Russia defeated Canada, 5-4, for the country's first world championship in 15 years.

"With the national team I won two world championships. The one we won in OT in Canada was a big one," Kovalchuk recalled today when I asked him about the most fun he's had in hockey. "We hadn't won in 15 years. I was fortunate. I scored that goal, too. It's probably, for now, my most exciting moment.

"But I'm only 28 years old. Maybe all the good things are in front of me."

Might the Devils be capable of going on the long playoff run that Kovalchuk has coveted for so long?

"To me winning the Stanley Cup is the toughest thing in hockey," he said. "When you play for the national team it's a big honor and the Olympic Games are probably up there, too, because it happens once in four years.

"But the Stanley Cup, after that long (battle) in the playoffs, that's definitely one of my main goals. That's the reason I stayed here. I feel like Lou (Lamoriello) and ownership always put a team together that can compete for the Cup every year. That's the kind of environment in which I want to play."

Kovalchuk, of course, signed a 15-year, $100 million contract with the Devils in the summer of 2010. He thought last season would be different and savors what has happened this season that much more.

"Yes. After those (kind of) years, you start to understand the names that didn't make it at all. If you look at the roster of our team last year, on paper everybody thought we would be one of the top teams in the NHL," he said.

"The same thing this year is happening with Washington. You have to have the atmosphere in the room. That's what makes the big difference because when you go through a long season you have to play withy guys who care about you and you have to care about them."

Individually, he remains a force. He was named the NHL's second star of the week ending March 11 and over his last seven games Kovalchuk has 11 points (five goals, six assists).

But despite his talents, Kovalchuk is a team player. He never forgets to praise teammates and is among the most well-liked members of the team.

The camaraderie, he says, is the key element in the success of the club to date.

"Definitely. I like our locker room this year," Kovalchuk said. "We have a great group of guys. Everybody is so close to each other. We all care about each other a lot. We're on the same page with the coaching staff. We talk to each other and always communicate. It's like one big family."

His goal against the Flyers Sunday night was his 30th. It was also the 399th of his career, putting him on the brink of a significant milestone.

"I never was a big stats guy," Kovalchuk said. "It's a team sport. It's nice when you accomplish those things but you have to realize that if you don't play with good players, you'd never do it. I think everybody here is for one goal, to win, and I'm no exception. I want to win every game. That's what I enjoy the most. When you win, that's when you are happy."

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Kovalchuk on finishing second behind Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov for the NHL's player if the week ending March 11: "So the Russians are taking over," he said with a smile.

DeBoer said there was a point when he wondered if Kovalchuk could continue to log such heavy ice time without wearing down.

"Sure you think about that. Absolutely. He's playing really an unprecedented amount of minutes for a forward in recent years," he said. "So it was something you definitely think about.

"When you're around him every day though and see the energy he brings to the rink and how he practices, we were looking for signs of wearing out or fatigue and we haven't seen them. That's the good news, that he's been able to handle it."

Kovalchuk practiced today, even though it was optional.

"He's amazing," DeBoer said. "He's an incredible athlete."

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Steve Bernier said he understood why he was a healthy scratch Sunday night against the Flyers.

"They were expecting a little more physical fight on the ice," Bernier said. "That's what they said to me."

He did not enjoy sitting out the game, the first he's missed since being recalled from Albany (AHL). He played in 20 straight.

"It's always disappointing," Bernier said. "Like I said at the beginning. I won't lose my focus. I want to make sure next time i play I'll be 100 percent ready."

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Center Ryan Carter was sporting a nasty cut on the bridge of his nose courtesy of a high stick from Philadelphia's Zac Rinaldo.